Lightning prospect Artem Sergeev had a secondary assist on Valeri Nichuskin's overtime game winning goal to lift Russia to a 6-5 win the Bronze Medal Match of the U20 World Junior Championships in front of the home crowd in Ufa. Fellow Lightning prospect defenseman Nikita Nesterov also chipped in a power play helper in the winning effort. Nikita Kucherov, who is among the tournament leaders in scoring, failed to find the scoresheet against the Canadians. Goaltender Andrey Vasilevskiy, who had both of Russia's previous starts, did not dress for the game. For the Russians, although failing to win Gold on home ice is disappointing, having only lost to the Swedes in a shootout in the Semifinals and then to defeat the Canadians in the Bronze Medal Match is certainly reason to hold their heads high. Sergeev and Kucherov will return to their respective clubs in the QMJHL while Nesterov will likely return to Chelyabinsk of the KHL and Ufa of the KHL will make a determination now on where to assign Vasilevskiy.

Update:
Team USA defeated Sweden in the Gold Medal Match of the U20 WJC's 3-1.

At the conclusion of the game, the tournament released its awards. By vote of the coaches, Vasilevskiy and Nesterov were named two of Russia's top three players in the tournament.

Brampton spotted Sudbury a 4-0 lead through two periods before chipping at the lead to pull within one goal with seven minutes to play in regulation. The Battalion couldn’t get the equalizer and lost, 4-3. Blujus’ assist came on the power play. He has registered at least a point in only six of his last 22 games (9 points total in that time).

Owen Sound crossed the border into Michigan and found themselves down 3-0 after two periods. The Attack scored three times in just over two minutes mid-way through the third period, but a power play goal by the Whalers with 13 seconds remaining made the comeback all for not in the standings.

New coach Jody Hull has the Petes playing at a high level, and the league’s last place team went toe-to-toe with Kitchener before falling in a shootout. Koekkoek’s 5-game point streak came to an end in the loss. The teams combined for 97 shots on goal, with the Rangers winning that statistical battle, 49-48.

Tomas Hertl's power play goal early in the Third Period stood up as the game winning goal in Czech Republic's 4-3 victory over Switzerland in the tournamen't 5th Place Game. The loss was Switzerland's first and only regulation loss of the U20's. Tanner Richard took two minors for roughing and a minor for tripping in the game. It was also the first contest of the tournament when he was sub-.500 on draws (31.3%). Richard will return to the OHL now to continue his North American Junior season.

Cedric Paquette (pictured) had the primary assist on Samuel Carrier’s game-winning goal scored at 6:41 of the third period as the Armada came from behind to top the visiting Phoenix, 3-2. Paquette is within one point of his career high for points in a season, set last year in 63 games.

Slater Koekkoek extended his point streak to five games with an assist in Peterborough’s 3-0 win over the Bulls. His power play assist gave him 22 for the year, six more than his previous career high of 16 set in his rookie season.

Sweden's Sebastien Collberg scored the only goal of the penalty shot session to stamp his team's ticket to the Gold Medal Match in a 3-2 win over Russia. Russian goaltender Andrey Vasilevskiy stopped 2 of 3 in the shootout for the shootout loss. Forward Nikita Kucherov assisted on Mikhail Grigorenko's goal in the Third Period to help force Overtime, but was stopped on Russia's last shootout attempt. Russia plays Canada on Saturday in the Bronze Medal Match after Team USA upended the Canadians 5-1 in the day's other Semifinal.

Nikita Kucherov scored a power play goal with 1:39 left in regulation to force overtime and then scored the shootout winner for Russia in their 4-3 win over Switzerland. Andrey Vasilevskiy stopped 4 of 5 in the shootout to seal the win. Nikita Kucherov gets credit for 2 goals, statistically, because shootout winners are counted in Europe. Nikita Nesterov also had a power play helper in the match. Russia moves on to the Semifinal Match against Sweden on Thursday. Switzerland will play Czech Republic in the 5th Place Match on Friday. Switzerland has still not lost in regulation in the tournament, despite only winning once in the Round Robin against Latvia.

Update: Nikita Kucherov (pictured) was named Yahoo Sports' Buzzing the Crease's first star of the day for his effort against the Swiss. Andrey Vasilveskiy earned honorable mention.

Tomas Hertl's overtime goal lifted Czech Republic to a 4-3 win over Switzerland in their final game of the Round Robin. Switzerland overcame a 2 goal Third Period deficit to force extra time, but took their third after-regulation loss of the tournament. The Swiss finished in third place in Pool A after the Finns lost to Sweden today. They draw Russia on Wednesday in the opener of the Playoff Round.

Nikita Kucherov scored Russia's only goal in their 4-1 loss to Canada. Defenseman Nikita Nesterov was named Russia's best player in the defeat. Andrey Vasilevskiy sat backup to Andrei Makarov, who made 44 saved for the Russians. Russia finished in second in Pool B. They face the Swiss Wednesday in the Playoff Round.

One game after having his point streak snapped at 10 games, Cedric Paquette had two assists in a 6-5 shootout loss to visiting Gatineau. The Olympiques managed just nine shots through regulation to Blainville’s 40, but scored on five of them. Gatineau outshot the Armada 5-0 in overtime and won the shootout, 1-0. Paquette is now within two points of his career high for points in a season, which was 48, set last year in 63 games. While his goal pace is behind last year’s (31 in 63 games), his assist numbers are blowing away last years totals (31-17).

Dylan Blujus (pictured) had his third multi-point game of the season in a shootout loss to Mississauga. The Steelheads won the 7-round shootout, 2-1. Blujus was the final shooter for Brampton, and did not convert.

Down 2-1 in the third period, Owen Sound fought back for a 4-2 win in Oshawa. Former Lightning prospect Geoffrey Schemitsch was scoreless and minus-2 in the match for the Gens. He has 21 points in 37 games this year for Oshawa. The Lightning chose not to sign him following last season, thereby forfeiting his rights.